Spyderco Forums

Got me thinking…

PM2 FRN 15V… just saying

It is an interesting thought - so it’s a matter of size and G10 VS FRN

I have both. They are both exceptional cutting tools with slightly different strengths and compromises. 15V has slightly better edge stability and front end edge retention and slightly more working edge too. S90V is obviously more stain resistant. Both scales are nice in their own way.
(I bought a backup of the 15v for what it's worth)

Deadboxhero wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 02, 2026 1:47 pm

Red Leader wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 02, 2026 1:30 pm

Appreciate that answer, thanks Shawn.

Thanks, Red,

Keep up all the great posts

-shawn

15v for the win. A) There will be no more, soon enough.
B) Shawn and Spyderco's heat treatment makes the edge last a VERY long time.
C) It doesn't want to rust very easily.
D) Patina can be polished off easily with Flitz if you don't like it. (I wax mine with Renaissance Wax)
E) There will NEVER be any more, soon enough.
Of course, as always, the answer is---- get both!

15V gets my vote...

"Both" is usually the correct answer.



"Buy the sprint run first", is the other correct answer, but since they are both sprint runs, I'd say get the most exotic one first.

You already have the corrosion resistance covered with the salty one, so 15V seems like a no brainer.

If I could only have one it would be S90V because it is less specialised and more versatile.

1st Look at it this way, sure they are pricey now, but just wait until later!

Second this is like putting money in the bank even used these will in time fetch a good dollar and you will have had the joy of using them.

3rd and lastly unless you abuse your knives these can last a lifetime. I think people forget the last part most of their knives will outlive them.

The people here saying spend money on 15V now because they’re not making any more and it’s going to get dramatically more expensive when it’s gone are a little bit confused IMO.

While technically true that there may never be a steel marketed as “15V”, if it’s a useful steel there will be some equivalent or it will be superseded by a slightly better steel.

Just as a stupid example, Spyderco hasn’t put out a knife in AUS in a very long time. But they have a ton of knives in 8CrMoV13 and it’s basically the same steel. And zero people are hunting for used AUS8 knives. The world has moved on.

zhyla wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 03, 2026 9:29 am

The people here saying spend money on 15V now because they’re not making any more and it’s going to get dramatically more expensive when it’s gone are a little bit confused IMO.

While technically true that there may never be a steel marketed as “15V”, if it’s a useful steel there will be some equivalent or it will be superseded by a slightly better steel.

Just as a stupid example, Spyderco hasn’t put out a knife in AUS in a very long time. But they have a ton of knives in 8CrMoV13 and it’s basically the same steel. And zero people are hunting for used AUS8 knives. The world has moved on.

The knife industry does not drive the steel industry.

The knife industry "siphons" off of the steel industry.


It was the reason why people were so confused how a company like Crucible Industries LLC could go out of business despite the success of MagnaCut.

Even if the entire knife industry is buying a particular grade, it is not enough to support a steel mill alone.

Also, the Spyderco 15V was more than just its chemistry. It was the fact that we took something that had 23% vanadium carbide volume and made it work with acute geometry at the knife edge than rather than just a highly wear resistant industrial part.

So, if we're talking about replacements for high wear industrial parts, of course there's already a replacement product for that.

It was the tuning for knife performance with that specific grade that made it special, There was a lot of additional effort that you never find at a production knife level.

Right on BBB there ain't nothing like 15V it is a timely event a happening in our time not just a steel.

Deadboxhero wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 03, 2026 10:51 am

The knife industry does not drive the steel industry.

This is an indisputable fact. Are you saying 15V was of no use outside of the knife industry? If so then I get it -- there won't necessarily be a replacement.

I think he touched on how it's used outside of the knife industry - "highly wear resistant industrial parts"

Shawn and Spyderco optimized 15V for use in the knife industry by developing a proprietary heat treatment protocol.

It kind of sounds like 15V was of no use in the knife industry until they made it work.

Brock O Lee wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 03, 2026 1:34 am

"Both" is usually the correct answer.



"Buy the sprint run first", is the other correct answer, but since they are both sprint runs, I'd say get the most exotic one first.

You already have the corrosion resistance covered with the salty one, so 15V seems like a no brainer.

If I could only have one it would be S90V because it is less specialised and more versatile.

Wow, that is a vibrant bronze color on that clip. Impressive. Is that just torched or did you use a special technique to get it like that?


@Catchadroppimgknife You can't go wrong with either one. I'm sure you'll love the 15V version.

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 03, 2026 1:27 pm

I think he touched on how it's used outside of the knife industry - "highly wear resistant industrial parts"

Shawn and Spyderco optimized 15V for use in the knife industry by developing a proprietary heat treatment protocol.

It kind of sounds like 15V was of no use in the knife industry until they made it work.

Nailed it, thank you Nick.

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 03, 2026 1:38 pm

Wow, that is a vibrant bronze color on that clip. Impressive. Is that just torched or did you use a special technique to get it like that?

Just a butane torch.

Clean clip with a solvent, hang from a wire, heat the back evenly until you get the colour you want. It takes only a couple of seconds, don't overdo it.

Brock O Lee wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 03, 2026 4:10 pm

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 03, 2026 1:38 pm

Wow, that is a vibrant bronze color on that clip. Impressive. Is that just torched or did you use a special technique to get it like that?

Just a butane torch.

Clean clip with a solvent, hang from a wire, heat the back evenly until you get the colour you want. It takes only a couple of seconds, don't overdo it.

Cool gotta try that.

I thought that Crucible also had the only forge that could get hot enough to make 15V. Did I remember that wrong?

Shawn, been following your posts here and have been impressed with your progress. I remember when you first posted to Sal asking for some 15v and following that thread. So your cool in my book.
Both, obviously.Both great Steels in an amazing package.
Thanks BBB and Spyderco

Catchadroppimgknife wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 02, 2026 1:22 pm

Ok Dead Box - you convinced me. 15v it will be

(And then I will get the S90 Military later )

.

Good choice (15V now) and plan (S90V later). 15V will likely be gone much sooner than S90V. I prefer G-10 also, but the carbon fiber scales on the S90V Military 2 are very nice (both looks and texture).